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Your husband was not fond of droids. Not at all. He didn’t trust them, not ever since he lost his parents because of them. This wasn’t an issue for you, seeing as you had never owned droids. But, it happened that one such day, you were walking home from the market on Tatooine after getting some more food for you and your husband, you heard a beeping sound behind you.
You turned around, but didn’t see anything. You looked down more, and that’s when you saw the little droid standing at your feet. It looked old and rusted, with several cracks in its paint, and part of the metal was coming off. Most notably, one of its eyes was missing.
“Well, hello there, little droid.“ You cooed, kneeling beside the small droid. It beeped and whistled at you, though you couldn’t understand it.
“I’m sorry, little droid. I don’t understand you. Do you understand me?“ You asked, to which the droid beeped unconfidently. “If you understand me, spin around. The droid did just that and beeped in the affirmative.
“Good. Do you want me to help fix you up? Spin again if you do.“
The droid spun again, still beeping.
“Alright. I think I can do that, little droid.“ You said, scooping up the little droid and putting it in your bag.
You continued walking to the Razor Crest, the ship you and your husband lived on, talking to the droid along the way.
“You’re a very cute little droid, but I don’t know what model you are.“ You said. “Do you have a name?“ You asked, but the droid beeped sadly and shook its head.
“You poor thing. How about I call you... Beepy?“ You suggested. It wasn’t a very good name, but the droid didn’t seem to mind, as it beeped excitedly and spun around.
“Alright, Beepy!“ You grinned.
“This is the Razor Crest.“ You said, gesturing to the large, clunky ship you called home. “My husband lives here, too. But he won’t be back for a while. He’s after a bounty.“ You explained, pulling a tool box out of storage.
“He’s a Mandalorian bounty hunter. You know about Mandalorians?“ You asked. Beepy beeped nervously.
“Don’t worry.“ You assured it, “Mandalorians are formidable warriors, but they aren’t sadistic. Not mine, anyway.“ You held up Beepy to examine it more closely. That’s when you noticed tiny built-in blasters on its head.
“Oh-“ You stiffened slightly. “You’re a home security droid, aren’t you?“ You asked. Beepy beeped a “Yes.“
You frowned, “Where’s your home, then?“ You asked.
Beepy shook its head and beeped sadly, backing away.
“You were... thrown out?“ You guessed, but Beepy shook its head again.
“Your masters were.. killed?“ You guessed again. The droid beeped in the affirmative, sinking down and shaking its head. It suddenly stood up and began banging itself into the wall.
“Hey!“ You demanded, “Stop that!“ You grabbed the droid.
Beepy beeped apologetically, whistling in a way that sounded like a sigh.
“You blame yourself, don’t you?“ You realized, “Your job was to protect them.“
The droid nodded, and you knelt beside it, patting its head.
“Listen now, Beepy. It wasn’t your fault. I know you did everything you could. Don’t beat yourself up over it.“ You instructed it.
You pulled out a screwdriver, screwing the sheet of metal on Beepy back in place. “You’re a good droid, Beepy. I know you are.“ You assured it, and it whistled gratefully.
“I’ll need to do some more research to find out where to get you a new eye, but for now, I need to take you to get an oil bath.“ You said. Beepy was about to respond with another beep, whenever the Razor Crest’s ramp lowered.
“Dank ferrik.“ You cursed under your breath. Din was dragging his bounty up the ramp, ignoring the creature’s pleas as he shoved him into carbonite.
Din then turned to acknowledge you.
“Cyar’ika.“ He greeted, stepping towards you, “How are y-“ He looked down, stiffening.
He looked between you and the droid in disbelief. “What is that?“ He demanded, pushing you away from Beepy. He didn’t want you anywhere near that thing.
His eyes widened beneath his helmet. “It’s got blasters!“ He observed, pulling out his own and pointing it at the droid.
“Din, please! It’s okay, it’s just a lost little droid I found. Don’t hurt Beepy!“
Din tilted his helmet, “Beepy?“ He repeated in that “Are you serious?“ tone of his. “You brought a droid into my ship, and you named it?“
You couldn’t deny it, so you just nodded. “It’s hurt, Din. And it’s sad and lonely.“ You tried to appeal to him, but he just scoffed.
“Sad and lonely?“ He repeated incredulously, “Droids don’t have emotions, cyar’ika. That thing is dangerous. You shouldn’t have brought it here.“
You shook your head, “Din, that’s not entirely true.“ You stated, “Certain types of droids, when allowed to go without having their memory wiped, often develop sentience. I’ve heard it’s especially common with R2 units.“
He scoffed again, “Bantha shit. Unfeeling killers is what they are. Trust me, I would know.“ He picked up the droid cautiously, his entire body stiff as if just touching it made him uncomfortable.
Beepy beeped in distress as Din tossed it down outside and closed the ramp.
You frowned, lowering your head as your eyes began wettening.
Din sighed, approaching you and wrapping his arms around you.
“Ner cyare, it’s okay. I know you had good intentions, but I don’t want you getting hurt. Especially not because of a heartless piece of metal.“
“It’s not a heartless piece of metal!“ You spat, pulling away from him, “Just because a battle droid killed your parents doesn’t mean you get to treat them all like shit!“
Din stiffened, going silent for a moment.
“Would you choose a droid over me, Cyar’ika?“ He asked, “Do I mean so little to you? And bringing up my parents?“ He shook his head.
“You have no idea what I went through. You don’t get to tell me how I respond.“ He stated, turning away. He was about to cry, but he didn’t want you to notice.
“Go ahead and get your precious droid if it means so much to you. It’s only fitting that I lose the only other person I’ve ever loved to one, too.“ He said, climbing the ladder to the cockpit.
You stood there for a while, feeling lost. You never wanted to hurt Din. He meant more to you than anything in the galaxy. And now you had hurt him and reminded him of his parents dying all because you wanted to help a droid.
You decided to climb up to the cockpit, finding Din sitting in the passenger’s seat, his helmet off for once.
“Din?“ You murmured. When he didn’t look at you, you gently grabbed his chin and pulled it towards you.
Your heart broke when you saw his eyes damp and reddened. He pulled his head away, not wanting you to see him.
“Din-“ You began, but he just pulled you into his arms, producing a choked sob.
“Please don’t leave me!“ He begged, his voice trembling, “I need you! I can’t- I- I’m sorry!“
“Shh, Din. You have nothing to apologize for. I just want you to see that not all droids are bad.“ You said, kissing his forehead.
He sniffled. “Cyar’ika, I- I just don’t trust them.“ He murmured, “I’m afraid.“ He admitted. “Afraid of losing you. I would never forgive myself if I lost you because I didn’t keep you safe.“
“Din...“ You thought about it for a moment, and then you smiled faintly. He looked confused, opening his mouth to speak, but you spoke first.
“You know, I learned a little about that droid. It’s a home security droid. It’s made to protect.“ You began. He looked hesitant, but he let you continue.
“One day, it failed to protect its former masters, and now it’s all alone. It thinks it’s a bad droid now, because it didn’t protect them.“
Din stared at you, frowning conflictedly.“What are you gettting at?“ He asked.
“What I’m getting at, is that this droid is more like you than you think. It’s a protector, but it’s experienced loss. And it’s really, really cute.“
Din rolled his eyes, but he couldn’t help cracking a small smile. “You think I’m cute, huh? A Mandalorian? You sound crazy.“
“I’m not crazy, Din. Just willing to look past fear.“ You said.
He shook his head, remaining silent for a moment before sighing.
“Cyar’ika?“
“Mm?“
“I’d like to meet this droid again.“
Din lowered the ramp of the Razor Crest, walking down and looking around for Beepy. The droid was hiding under the ship, and beeped in fear as it saw him, backing away.
“Droid-“ He hesitated, kneeling, “Beepy. I- I’m sorry about earlier. I won’t hurt you.“
Beepy beeped uncertainly, but slowly approached the Mandalorian.
“I heard you were a home security droid. Lost your masters, huh?“
The droid beeped sadly, nodding.
Din sighed. “When I was a child.... my home was attacked... with battle droids. My parents were killed. I almost was but... the Mandalorians saved me. After that, I was raised in the Way.“
The droid beeped sympathetically, hesitantly coming closer. It pressed its head to his side consolingly.
“After that, I don’t really trust droids.“ Din continued.
Beepy beeped apologetically, pulling away.
“But... I think I could learn to trust you.“
Beepy beeped gratefully, jumping excitedly. Din smiled beneath his helmet, standing.
“But-“ He raised a finger, “You must promise me one thing.“
Beepy beeped expectantly.
“You will protect my riduur- the one who brought you here- with your life. No harm will come to my riduur, not from anyone else, but especially not from you.“
Beepy nodded, beeping and spinning and jumping.
“Alright. You need some work, then.“
An oil bath and an eye replacement later, Beepy looked good as new, and while Din still kept a watchful eye on it, he was starting to feel safe with the droid.
Perhaps, even fond of it.
You lay beside him in your cot, kissing his cheek.
“I’m proud of you, Din.“ You said.
He scoffed. “Proud? Of what?“
“For you facing your fear. Even Mandalorians have them.“
“Thank you, cyare.“ He said, kissing your cheek in return.
“For what?“
“For bringing Beepy home. I-I’m glad that droid is here. It’s part of our aalit...“
“Are you saying you love it?“
Din huffed, but begrudgingly admitted it.
“Yeah. I do love Beepy.“